Green Bay - When the Green Bay Packers step onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, rookie Jerron McMillian is aware he'll be tracing the footsteps that another compact safety with loads of potential made years before him.

Growing up, McMillian watched Indianapolis' Bob Sanders pound opponents into submission while also proving that a box-type safety could play reliable pass coverage. Sanders was plagued by injuries and though he won the 2007 defensive player of the year award, his career wasn't what it could have been.

The 5-11, 203-pound McMillian enters the game Sunday against the Colts as a fast riser in coordinator Dom Capers' scheme and he's trying to prove that another guy built to play near the line of scrimmage can cover receivers and running backs.

"I liked the way he came to play," McMillian said. "He showed that size means nothing in this game. The way he played and how instinctive he was . . . (he could) come up and support the run and still able to play deep, regardless how tall he was."

McMillian, who is 3 inches taller than Sanders, showed how much confidence Capers has in him when Capers drew up a defense that matched him up against New Orleans scat back Darren Sproles. The Packers had been chewed up by Sproles the year before and Capers needed someone who could handle him.

"It was fun, but it's work, too," McMillian said. "There's so many routes he runs, and he's so quick. I just knew where my help was. At first, in my mind I was wondering like, 'Why, what's the reason it's me?'

"But sometimes it's (because) I'm able to do a lot of things, that's how my game is. If they need me in the box doing something creative I don't mind doing that."

McMillian, who replaced M.D. Jennings as the nickel safety after Week 1, offers a lot because not only is he big enough to play the run, he's quick. His time of 6.69 seconds in the three-cone agility run was the best of any safety timed at the scouting combine in March.

Three weeks ago against Chicago, McMillian picked off quarterback Jay Cutler and two weeks ago against Seattle, McMillian laid out and deflected a pass on third down that would have gone for a first down. He also picked off a tipped ball, but the play was nullified because of a roughing the passer call.

There have been mistakes, too.

He bit on a ball he shouldn't have on Seattle's game-winning drive and allowed a 22-yard completion to receiver Sidney Rice that set up the winning Hail Mary. And he didn't get enough depth on an important third-down conversion against the Saints.

Nevertheless, Capers has played him on roughly 78% of the defensive snaps over the last three games and probably will continue to carve out creative roles for him because of his football smarts and short-area quickness.

McMillian said he won't be intimidated by anything Capers draws up for him.

"Nah, not at all," he said "I like to live up to it. I like whatever they need me to go in and do. My mind is ready for it."

Taking leave: It has been a tough year for guard T.J. Lang.

During the first week of January, his father Thomas, 55, died of an unspecified ailment that was first diagnosed in November. On Monday, his grandmother, Elizabeth Lang, Thomas' mother, passed away in Michigan.

In addition, another family member passed away this week.

Lang was excused from practice to be with his family in Michigan. He later Tweeted that he was on his way back home.

"We gave T.J. a prayer yesterday before he left," center Evan Dietrich-Smith said of the offensive line. "We talked to him and sent him down flowers to the funeral and stuff like that.

"He's a fighter. It's not easy to sit there and lose a family member like that. He does a good job holding it in and not letting it affect his play. But we all feel really deeply for him."

Coach Mike McCarthy said he expected Lang at practice Friday.

Injury report: Defensive end Ryan Pickett was able to practice with a brace on his shoulder and a sore knee.

He was listed as limited and McCarthy said he may have to play with the brace.

Receiver Greg Jennings (groin) was declared as out, which wasn't a surprise since he said Wednesday that he would be shutting it down until he was able to move around without pain.

Safety Sean Richardson (hamstring) was the only other injured player not to practice.

End Dwight Freeney (ankle) practiced in full and said he hopes to play.

Challenge to fans: Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who is filling in for head coach Chuck Pagano while he recovers from a treatable form of leukemia, offered a plea to Colts fans.

Fill up the stadium.

"The one thing that I would like to say is this is a very special week for a lot of reasons," he said. "Having been against the Packers, I know how their fans travel and in no way can they come into Lucas Oil this week and take over our stadium.

"I'm challenging our fans, especially this week, because it's kind of a unique, special thing. That cannot happen. They need to be at an all-time high for Chuck and for the team. We cannot allow the cheeseheads to come in here and take over."

No decision: McCarthy said the Packers have until 3 p.m. Saturday to decide whether to add end Mike Neal to the 53-man roster.

"I thought Mike looked good," McCarthy said of his first pads practice since returning from a four-game suspension.

If Neal isn't activated Saturday, the Packers must decide on his status by 3 p.m. Monday.